Garment-supporter



(No Model.)

W. H. PLUMB. GARMENT SUPPORTER.

No. 437,043. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. PLUMB, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,043, dated September 23, 1890. Application filed June 19, 1890. Serial No. 855,974:- (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VYILLIAM H. PLUMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ansonia, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Garment-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of garment-supporters wherein two jaws are caused to grip the article to be supported, by sliding a duplex-headed stud or pin along longitudinal slots formed in the jaws. In prior devices of this character two elastic jaws are employed, which are joined directly together at one end by the metal of the jaws and spring apart at the opposite end when released by sliding the stud or pin toward the joined or connected ends of the jaws.

The objects of my invention are to avoid using connected spring-jaws which spring apart by releasing them from control of a pin or stud which slides independent of both jaws; to avoid joining or connecting the two jaws permanently together at one extremity; to avoid slotting both jaws for the reception of an independently-sliding stud or pin; to avoid the employment of a stud or pin which is distinct and separate from both jaws and moves independently thereof, and to provide a novel garment-supporter in which one jaw carries arigidly-attached stud or pin and is movable lengthwise on the other jaw in such manner that the two jaws act at one end to grip and hold a stocking or other garment at a point below the stud or pin, so that the pin does not engage the stocking or other garmenj, but serves to clamp the gripping ends of the jaws on the stocking or garment below such stud or pin.

To accomplish all these objects my invention involves the features of construction, the combination or arrangement of devices, and the principles of operation hereinafter described and claimed, reference being madeto the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved garment-supporter, showing sufficient of the web or suspender to illustrate my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing the two jaws separate, one from the other. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the two jaws engaged with an article to be supported or suspended.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, where- The numeral 1 indicates a portion of a web or suspender, which may be elastic or inelastic, as ordinarily employed in garment-supporters.

The numerals 2 and 3 indicate the two gripping-jaws, one of which 2 is provided at one end with a loop 4, to which is secured one end of the web or suspender, as at 5. The other jaw 3 is provided at one end with a loop 6, through which the web or suspender loosely passes in such manner that the jaw 3 can slide on the web or suspender when it is desired to engage or disengage a stocking or other article to be supported.

The jaws are each provided at its outer end with a lateral flange or gripping-edge 7, and

the jaw 2 is provided with a longitudinal slot.

8, terminating at one end in an orifice 90f greater diameter or dimensions than the slot, and the jaw 3 is provided with a rigidly-at tached laterally-projecting stud 10, having at its outer portion a head or shoulder 11 in such manner that by passing the stud through the enlarged orifice until such stud coincides with the slot, the jaw carrying the stud can then be moved lengthwise for engaging the head of the stud with the slot formed in the opposite jaw and thereby lock the two jaws to gether in a substantially rigid manner. The stud is square-shaped or provided with parallel side edges, so that when engaged with the edges of the slot the stud or pin operates to prevent lateral movement of either jaw, thereby retaining both jaws in proper alignment and securely hold them in engagement with the stocking or other article.

In practice the jaws are separated, and the inner one, which carries the stud, is laid against the under side of the stocking or other garment until the edge of the latter is in proximity to the stud. The outer or slotted jaw is then laid upon the stocking or other garment, so that the head of the stud or pin passes through the enlarged orifice, whereupon the inner stud-carrying jaw is moved lengthwise to engage and lock the stud with the slot, thus causing the flanged or gripping ends of the jaws to grip and hold the article. This lengthwise movement of the jaws, to eflfect the gripping action, can he conveniently accomplished by placing the thumb 011 the upper end of the stud-carrying jaw, and the forefinger on the gripping end of the slotted jaw and pressing the fingers toward each other.

The disengagement of the jaws from the article is readily effected by placing the forefinger against the underside of the stud-carrying jaw and the thumb on the upper part of the slotted jaw and imparting to the thumb and finger such pressure as will cause the stud-carrying jaw to move lengthwise on the web or suspender until the headed stud or 7 pin coincides with the enlarged orifice, whereupon the separation or disconnection of the two jaws will follow and the stocking or other garment be released.

The web or suspender serves to retain the stud-carrying jaw in position as a part of the supporting or suspending device, and prevents displacement or loss of such jaw, while permitting the two jaws to be made as two separate and distinct plates adapted to be connected together or entirely disconnected by simply sliding one jaw lengthwise upon the other to eifect the engagement or disengagement of the headed stud or pin with the opposing jaw.

The improved construction provides a simple and economical garment-supporter which renders it possible to dispense with springjaws of the character heretofore employed, and also avoids the necessity of longitudinally slotting both jaws and employinga separate and distinct pin which slides longitudinail y in the jaws to effect the engagement and disengagement of the jaws and the article to be supported.

In my improved device the jaws are provided at one end with gripping-edges to grip or clamp a stocking or other garment at a point below the stud or pin, and consequently the stud or pin does not engage the stocking or garment to suspend the same, but merely operates to lock and release the jaws. By this means the studs or pins will not punch holes through stockings or other garments, and in this respect my invention differs from those supporters wherein a headed pin on one part or section of the supporter operates to force a portion of the stocking or other garment laterally through a slot or orifice in the opposite portion of the supporter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- A garment-supporter comprising two independent members each provided with gripping-edges at their lower ends and means for their attachment at their upper ends, one of said members being provided with a stud on the body of its shank and the other with a key-hole slot and adapted to be applied to a webbing and to operate substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

YVILLIAM II. PLUMB.

\Vitnesses:

FRED. T. ROLFE, FRANKLIN BURTON, 

